President Barack Obama greets a little girl following his remarks during the Irish celebration at College Green in Dublin, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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BusinessWeek: Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA), labeled a “loser” by Mitt Romney during the U.S. election, is giving President Barack Obama’s green-energy strategy its biggest win after almost two years of failures pounced upon by Republicans.

The maker of the electric Model S car as early as today will become the first recipient of a U.S. Energy Department vehicle loan to pay off its debt. The Palo Alto, California-based company will do so nine years ahead of schedule, with taxpayers making at least $12 million on the $465 million lent.

People cheer as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are introduced during an Irish celebration at College Green in Dublin, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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President Obama’s 1979 Prom Photos

TIME Magazine: Tucked away in someone else’s shoe box of adolescent artifacts, there might be a picture of you in garish clothes and with an outdated ‘do, your arm around a high school squeeze. The President of the United States is no different. These previously unpublished photos, obtained exclusively by TIME from Obama’s schoolmate Kelli Allman (née McCormack), show a 17-year-old Barack Obama on the night of his senior prom.

Tom Kludt: President Barack Obama on Thursday will outline his administration’s counterterrorism policy in a major speech to be given at National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Obama will use the speech to announce new restrictions on unmanned drones.

According to the New York Times, the policy changes signed by Obama include a reduction of the “instances when unmanned aircraft can be used to attack in places that are not overt war zones, countries like Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.” The new rules will also establish “the same standard for strikes on foreign enemies now used only for American citizens deemed to be terrorists,” the Times reported.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greet Henry Healy, the President’s distant cousin, after arriving in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. The President and First Lady were also welcomed by Counselor Danny Owens, Chair Offaly County, and Counselor John Kennedy, Chair Tipperary County, center. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Igor Bobic: Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) will support a federal expansion of Medicare under the Affordable Care Act, Senate President Pam Jochum said Wednesday, according to the Telegraph Herald. Jochum, D-Dubuque, said an agreement was reached late Tuesday evening on an issue that has dominated the 2013 legislative session. Jochum said the compromise will be included in the Department of Human Services bill, which will be voted on Wednesday afternoon.

The legislation will be called the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan. Jochum said the state will accept federal funding from Medicaid expansion to cover approximately 150,000 new enrollees.

President Barack Obama greets a local resident on Main Street in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Tommy Christopher: Ever since a Monday Washington Post article revealed that the Department of Justice investigation into a national security leakincluded searches of Fox News reporter James Rosen‘s email and phone records, the media has been focused on fluffing up comparisons of that case with the unfolding Associated Press leak investigation. Lost amid the hype and hysteria over the searches was the actual content of the emails between Rosen and his alleged source, then-State Department contractor Stephen Jin-Woo Kim. In those emails, now confirmed to be from Rosen, the Fox News Reporter reveals his noble intentions for seeking secret information from Kim.

“Let’s break some new, and expose muddle-headed policy when we see it – or force the administration’s hand to go in the right direction, if possible.”

Wait, what? Is that what a News reporter is supposed to do, force the administration’s hand to guide American foreign policy to the reporter’s whim? Separate and apart from the DOJ investigation, this email seems to indicate that James Rosen is not just a News reporter, but an activist intent on pushing his own agenda, with the stated goal of manipulating U.S. foreign policy.

First Lady Michelle Obama greets local residents on Main Street in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Steve Benen: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke to the Joint Economic Committee this morning, and as expected, much of the attention was on his expectations with regard to monetary policy. The Fed will, Bernanke explained, pull back from its quantitative easing, but not before the economy shows it can handle the departure. But as it often the case, what interested me were Bernanke’s not-so-subtle hints to lawmakers about their role in making the economy worse. To be sure, this is all very polite and professional in tone, and I suspect some of the members of Congress on the Joint Economic Committee didn’t fully appreciate what Bernanke was saying.

So let’s translate a bit: the Fed chairman was telling Congress that taking money out of the economy, as Republicans insist we keep doing, is the one thing holding an American economic recovery. While Bernanke is trying to make it easier for the economy to grow, his efforts are being negated by Congress, which is making it harder for the economy to grow by embracing austerity measures and focusing on deficit reduction. The unsatisfactory status quo is, quite literally, largely lawmakers’ fault.

He’d never say this out loud, of course, but Bernanke was effectively trying to argue, “While I’m trying to keep the water out of the boat to keep it from sinking, you guys are inexplicably trying to pour more water back into the boat. Please stop.”

President Barack Obama poses for a photograph with a young girl during a walk along Main Street in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Steven Dennis: Sen. Rand Paul is still using an obsolete GOP talking point that Roll Call debunked back in March — and since then, he’s only gotten more wrong. “We are now borrowing $40,000 a second. We are borrowing $4 billion a day,” the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor, according to a transcript blasted out by his office. Neither figure is accurate.

Indeed, the latest Congressional Budget Office estimates show the deficit dropping to $642 billion this year — or less than $1.8 billion a day and about $21,000 a second. The debt will go up slightly faster — $755 billion or less than $2.1 billion a day or about $24,000 a second. That’s because programs like borrowing to finance student loans aren’t included in the CBO’s deficit calculation.

Roll Call reached out to Paul’s office to see if he intends to correct the record, and his tweet. We’ll let you know if we hear back.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive in Moneygall, Ireland, May 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Steve Benen: When it comes to the IRS controversy, I’m starting to get the impression that the goalposts have moved rather quickly. The initial allegation raised by the right and other administration critics is that President Obama’s White House, if not the president himself, may have been directly involved. As this story goes, Team Obama sent word to an IRS office in Cincinnati to apply extra scrutiny to conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. When every shred of evidence suggested this allegation is baseless, the charges shifted from “Obama did too much!” to “Obama did too little!”

Jeffrey Toobin’s take yesterday rings true. White House officials seem to have engaged in the opposite of a cover-up. They let the investigation proceed, and let the Inspector General do his job. They let the process play out. They played by the rules, which is what lawyers are supposed to do.

“…pointing to resilience in the labor market despite belt-tightening by Washington.”

Places like Reuters have been writing a variation of this for close to three years now. The unemployment rate drops despite, growth in the third quarter despite, job creation exceeded expectations despite. Maybe I’m nitpicking but I’ve seen it for so long that it is just irritating.

I haven’t seen him in more than a week. I think I’ll just play my Rhapsody in the mean time. He had this drum shaped instrument that made noises like the ocean. I’m sure I can find similar white noise on Rhap or Spotify.

The current senator is a democrat who won in unusual circumstances. He voted against the gun background checks and has not endeared himself to those he needs to win again.

The state is very much republican – but Palin giving up her Gov job to become a media tart did not go down well. She has spent more time in Arizona than Alaska for the past few years & her approval rating in Alaska is very low.

A good funded republican would win – except for Palin – her popularity – if it exists – is outside of Alaska. Check all the “fan” websites – nothing in Alaska.

Not that I can imagine – he is the best the dems have got – and disappointing – unless there is a massive dem swing in 2014, I find it hard to believe the democrats will keep the seat. I would love to be proven wrong – Palin running there could save it for the democrats – but she will not run – she just wants people to donate to her pac – so will pretend it’s possible until the last minute.

Cute prom photos of ‘Barry’ Obama and friends. His were more attractive than most—–I’ve got some embarrassing ones stashed away somewhere—–just had to think real hard to remember my date’s name. True Love! And that yearbook note was so typical Obama—–even then—-kidding and nice and thoughtful.

Good morning, TODers. Wonderful Rise and Shine, UT. That red-headed beauty is just the sweetest thing. And, of course, so is our president and first lady. Looking forward to POTUS’ speech. I know he will hit it out of the park, but the GOPers, corrupt media and emogs still won’t be satisfied. I despise those people.

There are reports on Twitter that POTUS will involve Congress in drone strike decisions, I think. I never second-guess my president and will wait to hear what he really says, but involving this Congress in anything…I just don’t know. They cannot hold water, as my late beloved mother used to say.

what? i read it as a remarkably nice thing for a 17 year old to write. he compliments her and suggests they have lunch since they always had fun together. if that’s “passive aggressive” then more 17 year olds and adults should be that way.

I have to agree.. it was a really sweet note- especially from a 17 year old boy. And in no way did I get a vibe that he was hitting on her.. in fact I found it so thoughtful that he was pretty much putting out there that he was her friend also- and would be around if she needed anything while ‘Greg’ was away. He showed great respect for women even then, imo.

sherijr, you nailed it… ESPECIALLY from a 17 yr old guy…a breed not usually known for their sensitivity, empathy and kindhearted humor. Yeah, he may have liked her, but you can tell there was no way he was gonna disrespect her by ignoring he fact she was “taken”. WTG, High School Senior Barry!!

A young 17 year old Barack was smart, thoughtful, and kind. And like most 17 year old boys, he was not opposed to getting some ass. One can be diplomatic as meta has stated, one can have lunch with a friend as 4morefor44 suggest, and you can write a thoughtful note in a friend’s yearbook as utaustinliberal has stated. With that being said, Barack was not above wanting “some,” and there is nothing wrong with that, but to suggest that Barack never had an impure thought in his head during his youth simply isn’t true. Furthermore Barack wrote that he smoked “weed” in college, and now I’m supposed to believe that he didn’t want some ass in high school.

What happen to the 51 people who died in the tornado? That’s why it is so important to wait for the facts, instead of jumping the gun. I believe the number was in the mid twenties, with ten being kids. I’m sorry one had to die. POTUS will be going to Oklahoma Sunday. It seem like he has had his share of these things, that’s why I always ask for prayer for POTUS and FLOTUS when they have to attend things like this.It can’t be easy.

Morning everyone! Happy Thursday:) Congrats, amk! Your timing was impeccable this morning:) Last day of school for the kiddos today…they’re SOOOO excited. What a great school year it’s been. Going to miss them, but I’m anxious to start summer…..

Can’t wait to hear what PBO has to say about the drones…I happen to not have a problem with them, and I have to say, that this targeted use of drones, as opposed to boots on the ground, has been a success in my opinion. Smart strategy as far as I’m concerned. I don’t care that the hair on fire crowd says….if there was an actual war zone, without the use of drones, do they really think that innocent people wouldn’t be killed? Just something else to bitch about as far as I can tell.

exactly. i’ve been making that point for years now with my supposedly “liberal” friends, who all happen to be white. it seems almost impossible for the white privilege liberals to give president obama credit for anything, since when i point out the incredible reduction of civilian deaths from unitied states forces from the time president obama came into office, they instantly and angrily shout back something like, “he’s increased drone strikes since bush!!” and so on.

first of all, i don’t necessarily believe that since they can’t really provide good sources for that claim, and more importantly, i keep explaining to them that there were hundreds of thousands of civilians killed by the u.s. war machine prior to president obama, and now were talking about hundreds. massive, massive, reduction and improvement (yes, i know that’s not to diminish any innocents deaths now and it should be zero), but president obama has improved things incredibly in this regard, yet these “liberals” foam at the mouth and “same as bush.” i’ve concluded they are lost causes, and we just need to focus on getting sane democrats to the polls.

my concern is that PA is still mired in old style politics…that is why PBO has to bring in his own folks in 2012….if they…the party bosses… have not learned that it is about turn out and the ground game…about building coalitions with the so-called Obama Coalition then we may have Corbett for 4 more years…

Well…this decision belongs to the State Dept…NOT CONGRESS! They have once again wasted copious amounts of taxpayer $$ with their bs talking points and committee meetings over this mess! Injecting themselves into a decision that doesn’t even belong to them!
I REALLY hope that PBO and the State Dept say a big NO to this massive, dirty cluster****. I can not believe that this administration will green light this mess while he has pushed green, clean energy for so long. I have hope that this will not happen and I will cheer that news.

COULD GUNS BE WEDGE ISSUE IN 2014? The Fix crew says it just might, citing a new Post poll showing the following:
Thirty five percent of registered voters say they could not support a candidate who voted against expanding background checks at gun shows and on the Internet — even if they agreed with him or her on other issues. By comparison, 14 percent of voters would rule out a candidate who voted for expanded checks.
Strikingly, these results are almost the same in states where Senators have good NRA ratings, again confirming one of the basic dynamics that has bedeviled the gun debate: Even in red states, lawmakers may be overestimating the conservatism of their constituents when it comes to guns.

DEMS HOLD SOLID LEAD IN CONGRESSIONAL BALLOT MATCHUP: The Post poll also finds that Democrats hold an eight point lead in the generic Congressional ballot matchup, 48-40. This would seem to undercut the claim that the current ongoing “scandals” are damaging Dems in the context of the coming 2014 elections, though it is certainly early days when it comes to scandal season.
Cook Political Report’s David Wasserman, who closely tracks House races, has said Dems would need to win 55 percent of the popular vote in House races to take back the lower chamber.

Yes….it is Coburn. He knows better for he is that Alpha and Omega in the bubble fundamentalist world. He knows about how to pay off staffers of Ensign who had affairs. He knows how to stage a political Coup d’etat against a newly sworn in president when Our nation and our economy is spiralling out of control. Yep, Tom Knows it all. What a pathetic little wicked man.

The word “wicked” needs to be used more when looking at what the GOP in congress are trying to do. I would love to see a storm flatten their homes & leave them with NOTHING except the clothes they are wearing. Many of the folks impacted by these events will never recover – physically, emotionally and financially.

Part of the underlying cause for the apoplexy on the right is that they’re certain President Obama is a radical criminal up to no good, which means there must be some kind of scandal somewhere. That nothing has turned up, ironically, only reinforces suspicions — since Obama has run a scandal-free administration it means he must be hiding something awful.

Got curious about PBO’s h.s. friend in prom photo, Greg Orme, since he and Barack were described as inseparable, like brothers. Wondered if they were still in touch. Yes. He’s one of the friends who Obama sees when they are in Hawaii—-in the golf group, was body surfing with him on that day of the ‘famous’ photos, was with him when he scattered his mom’s ashes into the Pacific. Orme was also in the Punahou friend group which was backstage at Grant Park in Chgo on election night ’08. Interesting from another friend—–altho all describe him as a bball nut in h.s., he was the only one who also worked on the school’s literary magazine—–and said to always have had a more worldly view than most classmates—-never talked of what kind of car or what big home he wanted—-it was always about how the world and relations between peoples could be made better—-those have always been his ideals.

That’s so nice that he still has childhood friends in his inner circle. As high as they have risen, the Obama’s remain grounded and surround themselves with people who truly know and care about them. This is what upsets those beltway village zombies. POTUS is not “aloof” at all. He just doesn’t wanna hang around a bunch of vultures.

The battle over the filibuster escalated Wednesday as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) jumped in the fray to lash Democrats’ threats to use the “nuclear option” to scrap the minority party’s ability to filibuster presidential nominees to cabinet and judicial positions. He and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) clashed in a heated floor exchange that led to hours of sniping between their offices.

“These continued threats to use the nuclear option point to the majority’s own culture of intimidation here in the Senate,” McConnell said, making a case that Republicans are using the filibuster responsibly. “Their view is that you had better confirm the people we want, when we want them, or we’ll break the rules of the Senate to change the rules so you can’t stop us. So much for respecting the rights of the minority.”

But the votes won’t necessarily be dispositive of the outcome. Sources familiar with Reid’s thinking say he’s exhausted with GOP obstruction and is ready to end the filibuster for nominations, but they caution that he doesn’t necessarily have 51 votes to make it happen.

Wow, I’m actually getting the chance to post early today! Thanks UT for the Moneygall pictures. I also can’t believe it’s been two years since that wonderful visit. Liked seeing POB prom pictures as well. Just got me to thinking though…I guess nobody was interested digging up GWB’s prom pictures,eh? While I enjoyed seeing the President’s pictures, I can’t help but feel that it’s part of the constant quest to dig up dirt on POB. People are already trying to say that his sweet note to his friend Greg’s date was an attempt to hit on her. Geez…

A weather note from OKC…..it’s raining hard, which is making personal household recovery efforts difficult. The Methodist Church had organized an interdenominational church help day today. A friend of mine was to go with a group of 35 from her church to help. It was a one family help one family organizational set up. It’s raining so hard right now, and has been since early this morning that I’m wondering if this will happen.

This is a land of extremes: four years of drought, now so much rain there’s no place to put it. Either the crops are starving, or they’re flooded. After the bone dry 30s, the 40s were wet, at least the first part of the decade. Perhaps this is why there is a boom/bust mentality here….that’s the way the weather operates.

Our neighbors are moving out today, what a horrible day for that! According to KFOR this morning, this should clear up by “mid-morning” well, it’s mid morning now, and the rain’s going strong.

However, we need to fill the reservoirs for the future. We live right next to one…..a manmade lake. For the past two years it was possible to walk almost the whole way across it. Now, it’s full, and that’s good, because it will dry out again.

Glad to read that a state senator from Rush Springs (a democrat) is going to propose legislation for a b

I’ll finish my last sentence, since I accidentally posted too early. The senator is proposing a bond issue to raise the money necessary to ensure tornado shelters in every school, then these could also be used as community shelters. He states, this is an every year occurrence, and children should be safe at school.

Not that I am in anyway, shape or from comparing the two….but for an example, Tina Turner has now left his citizenship behind formerly and had chosen for another nation’s citizenship. Anwar al-Awlaki could have done the same thing. He didn’t. His son that was killed tow weeks later didn’t. Although in the son’s case, it was a bit off for the son was under age. He could not have been able to until either 18 or 21 yrs old.

I don’t consider people like Anwar al-Awlaki an American. Once you have join terrorists groups who want to kill Americans, you are the enemy, and it is them or us. I don’t give a dam what Rachel Maddow or anyone else like her say.

sterilization Coburn performed on a 20-year-old woman, Angela Plummer, in 1990 became what was called “the most incendiary issue” of his Senate campaign. Coburn performed the sterilization on the woman during an emergency surgery to treat a life-threatening ectopic pregnancy, removing her intact fallopian tube as well as the one damaged by the surgery. The woman sued Coburn, alleging that he did not have consent to sterilize her, while Coburn claimed he had her oral consent. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed with no finding of liability on Coburn’s part.

The state attorney general claimed that Coburn committed Medicaid fraud by not reporting the sterilization when he filed a claim for the emergency surgery. Medicaid did not reimburse doctors for sterilization procedures for patients under 21 and according to the attorney general, Coburn would not have been reimbursed at all had he not withheld this information. Coburn says since he did not file a claim for the sterilization, no fraud was committed. No charges were filed against Coburn for this claim

The bombshell that Republican hero David Petraeus was behind changes in the Benghazi talking points is another reason why Obama should not only clean out the Bush appointees, but should stop trusting Republicans in general.

The Washington Post reported late Tuesday that the emails released by the Obama administration reveal a rather shocking surprise. No, the Obama White House did not craft the Benghazi talking points to protect their reputation or that of the State Department. Nor did the State Department protect their image with “changes” to the talking points.

It was Republican hero, General David Petraeus, then the head of the CIA, who sought to burnish his image with demands to change the talking points. In fact, his version put him at “odds” with the State Department, the FBI, and officials within his own agency:

He came to a hearing at the capitol and said that he Knew it was a terrorist attack. TBGOPers in Congress know and have known that the Benghazi attacks, at that outpost was a 30 man CIA “gig”. Their game from day one was politics for the Nov 2012 elections and the 2016 elections……..nothing more.

Carolyn, I want to apologize to you in advance of my rant. I know that there are some wonderful people that live in Oklahoma that have a brain and a heart………but……..I just heard that it was unsure if PBO would attend a memorial service at Baptist Church on Sunday but would survey the damage from the tornado…..now….we all know he would attend if they did not reject him…….and as far as I am concerned, let Oklahoma pray their way out of their destruction….pull fema out of there….let them call their esteemed Senators for help….I’m sick and tired of hearing Tom Coburn’s mouth……..You reject MY tax $$ fine, send it to some state that has a disaster that appreciates them…..